New Car Review

1998 Toyota Avalon XLS

by Carey Russ

The large family sedan is a very American type of vehicle.
Although there are commodious five- or six-passenger sedans made
elsewhere, most are distinctly upper-class machines. This shouldn't be
surprising, as generally European and Asian roads are narrower and
cities more crowded than their American counterparts. The large
middle class sedan was the preeminent American vehicle form until
the advent of oil crises, minivans, and sport utilities.

There is still a market for roomy sedans that are priced and
equipped just under the "luxury" threshold. Such cars are made by all
American manufacturers. One foreign-nameplate automaker is in the
class as well. Toyota has been building the Avalon since the 1995
model year. The Avalon is about as American as it is possible for a car
with a Toyota nameplate to be. It was designed primarily in Toyota's
U. S. facilities and specifically for the American market. It is built only
at Toyota Motor Manufacturing in Georgetown, Kentucky.

The Avalon is Toyota' s flagship sedan. When the Cressida was
discontinued in 1991, the company had no top-level car for Camry
owners to move up to. So the Avalon was developed, using a stretched
Camry platform and the Camry's V6 engine. Externally smaller than
the domestically-badged competition, the Avalon is classified by the
government as a large car based on interior space, and is available in 5-
passenger form with front bucket seats and a console-mounted shift
lever or as a 6-passenger model with a front bench and steering
column-mounted gearshift. The Avalon has its first styling revision for
1998. Although the appearance hasn't changed much, the chassis
structure has been strengthened and there are a variety of mechanical
and safety upgrades. As before, the 1998 Avalon is offered in XL and
XLS trim levels.

As I write this, a 1998 Toyota Avalon XLS sits in my
driveway. Not too big outside, yet with plenty of room and comfort
within, it is the perfect larger sibling to a Camry. I think of it as a
Camry stretch limo, combining the unostentatious comfort and
practicality of a Camry with more room and luxury.

APPEARANCE: Exterior changes to the new Avalon are subtle. The
basic conservatively elegant shape is unchanged. New, larger "jewel"
multi-reflector headlights flank a crisply redesigned, chrome-trimmed
grille in front. The turn signals are now integrated with the headlights,
and the XLS model has foglamps in the lower bumper fascia. At the
rear is a new trunk lid. It is sharper and crisper than the previous deck
lid, and has a small integrated "ducktail" spoiler. It is also wider than
the original lid, for easier trunk access. New taillights and chrome trim
around the license plate well sharpen the '98 Avalon's look.

COMFORT: Inside, only the use of imitation wood trim keeps the
Avalon XLS from being confused with its relatives from Lexus. The
design is elegantly simple and very functional. My test car had light-
colored leather seating surfaces, with darker door trim and instrument
panel material, a very contemporary luxury look. Five-passenger
Avalons have very comfortable front bucket seats, power adjustable
with driver' side memory on XLS models, and a large, useful center
console. The Avalon XLS also has automatic climate control and a
good AM/FM/cassette/ CD audio system. Rear passengers have good
legroom and greater than average headroom. Front and rear dome
lights and separate interior spotlights for all outboard positions are
very convenient. Windows, door locks, and mirrors are power-
operated, as expected.

ROADABILITY: Strengthening and stiffening of the Avalon's chassis
structure for 1998 not only improves crashworthiness, it makes a quiet
and refined car even more so. The Avalon's fully-independent
suspension is supple but resilient, and calibrated for American-style
comfort with out losing touch with road conditions. The Avalon XLS
is very much a contemporary luxury car on the road.

PERFORMANCE: The Avalon shares its 3.0-liter dual overhead cam
24-valve aluminum V6 with the Camry and the new Sienna minivan.
Intake and exhaust manifold differences give it a bit more power than
its siblings. With 200 horsepower on tap, the Avalon is quick enough
for all conditions, and has no problem tackling steep grades even when
fully loaded. Unlike the large sedans from the old days, the Avalon has
a very moderate appetite for gasoline.

CONCLUSIONS: The Avalon is a very Toyota kind of full-sized
American sedan - roomy, quiet, comfortable, and fuel-efficient.